Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent) | Oireachtas source

To reiterate, the tribunal involved 17 years, 428 witnesses and, as outlined by the Minister, €159 million. It destroyed many reputations, rightly or wrongly. It brought down a Taoiseach. Yet, we do know not know its outcome. Where does accountability lie in this squalid affair? It is as if it operated in a parallel universe for which we in the House had no responsibility.

It is important that some time is set aside for a debate on this over the next few weeks, and that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government comes before the House to give a full account of where mistakes were made, what lessons have to be learned and what changes to legislation are required. He should also outline the current status of the tribunal. I understand - I may be incorrect - that a number of staff are working with the tribunal registrar; perhaps they are senior counsel or legal people. Are the costings and payments for those people included in the €159 million cost? When will the tribunal cease operation?

As far as the public is concerned, the findings do not amount to much because people do not have confidence in what the outcome or implications may be. I do not know if Mr. Justice Mahon is still chairman. Some documentation has been published on the website but it is unsatisfactory. This House established the tribunal and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government should come before it to outline the situation. I thank the Minister of State for her reply but there are no lessons to be learned from it and it contained minimal factual information on what happened. Where lies accountability in this affair? Nobody seems to be accountable for wrongdoing.

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